Bhikkhuni Rattanavali, hailing from Thailand, is one of the co-founders, alongside Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee, of the Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards.
The concept for these awards was conceived in March 2001 following the participation of the nuns in two significant events: the Outstanding Women’s Awards in Thailand organized by Dr. Suteera Vichitranonda, Director of the Gender and Development Research Institute funded by a United Nations UNIFEM grant, and a keynote address delivered by Venerable Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee at the United Nations in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2001.